First Day Of Trial in Murder of UF Student Michelle Herndon

O'Quinn stands trial for the murder of Michelle Herndon for her November 8th 2005 death.

Days before O'Quinn --a nurse in the surgical intensive care unit at Shands hospital was fired-- the healthy part-time physical trainer, Herndon, was found dead in her Gainesville home.

Now 29, O'Quinn stands trial for first-degree murder. In a short opening statement the defense said O'Quinn was being singled out, and that only the evidence to support the claim against his client is being presented.

But friends and her mother, Belinda Herndon, took the stand today to say how promising Michelle's life had been. The prosecution is expected to bring witnesses who will attest to O'Quinn's infatuation with Herndon.

Tomorrow the trial is expected to focus on O'Quinns exile to Ireland and his extradition from Africa.